As we get older and our perspective and our focus evolve. Many of us search not for the things that make us different as much as we seek to find those threads that connect us. As I crossed the half century point, I became very aware that there are not too many people on this earth who have known me forever. My parents and grandparents have all passed, so the list is down to two siblings and a handful of aunts, uncles and other more distant relatives.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a close relationship with either of my siblings. There are quite a bit older than I am. We were raised in different decades, but we might as well have been raised worlds apart. I have come to feel that my experience growing up is more similar to an only child than that of the youngest of three siblings.
There have been many times when I see or hear something that sparks a memory from my childhood, and I yearn to have that sibling to call and share the memory with. That phone call that starts out, “Hey, remember when…” and turns into a two-hour stroll down memory lane. I believe that these memories and thoughts are very important for us to recall, enjoy and learn from. These are the events that became the foundation for who we are now and who we might become in the future.
The memories of a youngster, a teenager, and even a young adult are the points that we have plotted on our journey, and they help to explain how and why we are here today. I have a favorite quote from of all places Neil Diamonds The Jazz Singer. The elder Canter Rabinovich is struggling to impart wisdom to his son who sees a different and less traditional path for himself; one that does not match the journey that his father sees for him. He tells his son, “You have to know where you come from to know where you are going.” Reminiscing with siblings is in many ways a reminder of who we were, and how our journey has gotten us to today.
I always wanted the ability to call someone and share those thoughts, and also to gain their perspective on the time and place that I recall from my past. And in a rather unusual way, I think I was looking for that opportunity more than I ever realized. I was seeking a connection to my past to serve as my compass in the future. And it was only through the grace of the universe, good fortune, a higher being or whatever you choose to have faith in, that I was granted this gift.
From a tiny little website that could easily slip into obscurity on the vastness of the Internet, I connected with a lady who grew up not five miles from my childhood home. And the beauty of most tiny Midwest towns is that they don’t change much from decade to decade. So even though our childhoods were not occurring simultaneously, the backdrop was pretty much the same. But the truly amazing part is that our discussions about the fixtures of Worthington, Ohio lead us to places around the world and commonalities that appear long after we left the comfort of that tiny hometown that we share.
Even our differences seem to pull us together. She was dedicated to her craft long before I ever gave writing a serious thought. I, on the other hand, took many detours to wind my way to writing. It was always something that I enjoyed but more in the way that most people watch television for entertainment or relaxation. It took me decades to discover that writing was something that I might be able to turn into a small business venture. But however we got to where we are today, we are both at the same point of exploring our writing, our lives, and our memories.
Pam has become my muse if I dare use that term. She is definitely a huge source of inspiration and a driving force in my writing, but the true definition of a muse is “one who is a source of inspiration for a creative artist.” I am not sure I can hold up my end of that deal as a creative artist, but none the less she is a great source of motivation and inspiration for whoever I am and hope to become. And one that I never imagined would appear before me.
I am in awe of the fact that even though I had not been able to succinctly define what I was looking for, somehow it was waiting for me on my journey. I simply needed to keep working, continue to make progress even in tiny little steps and be open to whatever I was fortunate enough to discover. In this case, it was an amazing person who I am now fortunate enough to call my dear friend. She has helped me to add meaning to my roots in a small Midwest town as well as my desire to spread my wings and explore as much of the world as possible. She reminded me of lessons that I learned decades ago at Lake Hope and how they still apply to each and every day of my life.
Thank you, Pam, for showing me that we all need to have that lake full of hope, the faith to believe in what is meant to be and the determination to follow our dreams. AAWL!